Sonnet To Science Poem Analysis

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - GRADUATE STUDIES STA. MESA, MANILA

MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
Edgar Allan Poe's
Sonnet
to
Science
Analysis
GOLOSINO, ALLYSSA B.
TESL 624- Integrating Language & Literature
Dr. Gordonas
GOLOSINO, ALLYSSA B. July 28, 2023

TESL 624-Integrating Language and Literature Dr. Gordonas
Sonnet to Science
Edgar Allan Poe
Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!
Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.

Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,
Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?

How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise,
Who wouldst not leave

him in his wandering
To seek for treasure
in the jewelled skies,
Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?

Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car,
And driven the Hamadryad from the wood
To seek a shelter in some happier star?

Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood,
The Elfin from the green grass, and from me
The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree?
SONNET TO SCIENCE POEM ANALYSIS


Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary
critic. He is best known for his contributions to the genres of horror,
mystery, and Gothic fiction. Poe's works often explored themes of death,
madness, and the macabre, earning him the reputation as a master of the
dark and eerie. Some of his most famous works include "The Tell-Tale
Heart," "The Raven," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Pit and the
Pendulum."
Poe's writing style was characterized by its melancholic and

of the pioneers of the short story
introspective nature, and he was one

genre in American literature. His works have had a profound influence

on subsequent generations of writers and have inspired countless
adaptations in various media.
About the poem "Sonnet to Science"

Uncharacteristically, Poe wrote "Sonnet to Science," a poem that is
usually not his forte or style to express his dissatisfaction and critique the
growing influence of science and reason on the world of poetry and
imagination. The poem reflects a clash between the rational, scientific
worldview and the romantic, imaginative sensibility that Poe valued as a
poet.


More about the poem "Sonnet to Science"

1. Defending Romanticism: Poe was a known figure in the American Romantic
movement, which celebrated emotions, nature, and the supernatural. He believed
that poetry should evoke emotions, mystery, and beauty, rather than adhering to
strict scientific principles. In this poem, he defends romantic ideals and laments the
intrusion of science, which he sees as dull and cold, into the realm of art.
2. Emphasizing the Loss of Wonder: Through the poem, Poe portrays science as a
vulture preying upon the poet's heart and tearing away the magical elements of
nature. By driving away mythological figures like Diana, Hamadryad, Naiad, and
Elfin, he illustrates the loss of wonder and enchantment in a world increasingly
explained and demystified by scientific inquiry.

3. Critiquing the Age of Reason: Poe lived
during a time when the Enlightenment and
the Age of Reason were prominent intellectual movements. These movements
championed reason, scientific inquiry, and skepticism. However, Poe, as a romantic
poet, was critical of the dominance of reason and its impact on the artistic
imagination. In "Sonnet to Science," he voices his opposition to the dominance of
scientific thought over artistic expression.
4. Romanticizing Nature: The poem reflects a romantic view of nature as a source of
inspiration and creativity. Poe believed that the natural world held mysteries that
transcended scientific understanding and that these mysteries were essential for
artistic creation. By depicting science as a force that takes away the beauty and
magic of nature, he seeks to emphasize the importance of preserving the romantic
appreciation of the natural world.


Rhyming Pattern
Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art! A

Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes. B
Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart, B

Vulture, whose wings are dull realities? A
How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise, A

Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering B
To seek for treasure in the jewelled

skies, B

Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing? A

Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car, C
And driven the Hamadryad from the wood D
To seek a shelter in some happier star? C
Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood, D

The Elfin from the green grass, and from me C
The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree? D
ABBA ABBA CDC DCD


Figurative Speech
1. Apostrophe: The poet addresses "Science" directly as if it were a
person. Poe talked to something abstract or not physically present.
Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!
2. Rhetorical questions: The poem is full of rhetorical questions,

meant to challenge the role of science and express the poet's
discontent with its intrusion into the world of art and imagination.
E.G. Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,
How should he love thee?
or how deem thee wise?
Who wouldst not leave him

in his wandering
To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,
Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?
Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car?
3. Metaphorical language: While there are no explicit metaphors in

the poem, the poet uses metaphorical language to describe science
as a vulture and a predator that preys upon the poet's heart. This
creates vivid imagery to convey the negative impact of science on
poetry.
Why preyest thou thus upon the poet's heart,



Figurative Speech
4. Allusion: The poem alludes to mythical figures like Diana, Hamadryad,
Naiad, and Elfin. These references add a touch of romanticism and
emphasize the idea that science has displaced the magical and imaginative
elements from the world.
Diana from Roman Mythology - Goddess of Hunt, Chastity, and Moon
Hamadryad from Greek Mythology- creatures that live on trees, a type of

nymph.
5. Personification: Poe personifies science, giving it human-like qualities

such as altering all things with "peering eyes."

Science! True daughter of Old Time thou art!

Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.


Sources:
https://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NymphaiHamadryades.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diana-Roman-religion
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48625/sonnet-to-science
https://poemanalysis.com/edgar-allan-poe/sonnet-to-science/
https://interestingliterature.com/2020/06/edgar-allan-poe-sonnet-to-
science-analysis/
https://prezi.com/mbvelndp2acc/sonnet-to-
science/#:~:text=Sonnet%20to%20Science%2C%20by%20Edgar,with%20its

%20reasoning%20and%20proofs.
https://interestingliterature.com/2020/06/edgar-allan-poe-sonnet-to-
science-analysis/

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POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - GRADUATE STUDIES STA. MESA, MANILA

Edgar Allan Poe's

GOLOSINO, ALLYSSA B. July 28, 2023

Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!

Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.

Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?

Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?

To seek a shelter in some happier star?